The Girlfriend Experience - 2009 - Steven Soderbergh

The second of Steven Soderbergh's films to employ the experimental distribution method of a near simultaneous release on-demand, theatrically, and on HDNet; The Girlfriend Experience is the type of film that I wish more directors would try out. Shot in a couple of weeks with RED digital cameras, for under two million dollars and staring adult film performer Sasha Grey, this is the type of work that Soderbergh has been doing throughout his entire career.

The film has very little to speak of in the way of plot, rather we spent most of the time observing Christine, or Chelsea as she is know professionally, go about her life trying to balance the demands of her work with her relationship with her boyfriend. We see Chelsea on dates with some of her clients, transcribing notes about everything she does with them and talking with various people. One of the central interactions that the out of sequence story revolves around is a lunch meeting between Christine and a reporter. The reporter is interested in how an escort can provide the titular service convincingly and what effect the work has on her relationship. Christine also is a believer in personalogy and use the practice to help her pick which clients to accept. It is clear throughout that while she does not hate her work, she would jump at the chance to move forward with her life.

Sex is at the heart of the film but, it is not shown to the audience. There is some nudity but Soderbergh is more interested in the conversations that the men have with Chelsea. Buying intimacy and the consequences of that transaction for both parties involved is the topic that the film attempts to explore although the focus is mostly on the impact it has on the escort.

I am sure that many potential viewer are wonder weather or not Sasha Gery can act up to the standards of a mainstream movie. While I do not see her receiving a call from the Academy, she is competent in the role. The real potential impact of the film is in Soderbergh's continued use of the RED ONE to make films that would never have been possible with film. Between The Girlfriend Experience and Che he is showing that digital camera technology has matured and should continue to drive the cost of film making down. While worth seeing for anyone, it is a must see for film makers that are still on the fence about digital. It may never replace the intangible warmth of celluloid but, it is getting closer and can be done for a fraction of the cost.